Shoulder support for garment hangers



Oct. 27, 1953 P. M. HARRELL 2,656,955

SHOULDER SUPPORT FOR GARMENT HANGERS Filed Nov. 29, 1949 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 SHOULDER SUPPORT FOR GARMENT HANGERS Pearl M. Harrell, Santa. Ana, Calif.

Application November 29, 1949, Serial No. 129,933

2 Claims.

My invention relates to shoulder supports for garments placed on hangers, and one object is to devise a set of supports of this type which are readily applicable to a standard wire garment hanger.

A further object is to provide a pair of shoulder supports which have simple and reliable attaching means for mounting them on the hanger.

Another object is to incorporate a longitudinal ly adjustable shoulder supporting plate in each device, in order that the supports may be gathered or separated to fit garments of different widths.

An additional object is to construct each of the supports along lines of simplicity and compactness.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a standard garment hanger, showing a pair of the novel shoulder supports mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the supports, showing variations in the design of the same by means of finely-dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the showing in Fig. 3 from the left-hand side;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the showing in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the showing in Fig. 3 from the right-hand side; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmental bottom plan view of the showing in Fig. 3.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates a conventional wire garment hanger as composed of a bottom bar I 0, curved ends ll, inclined upper bars l2, a crown l3, and a hook l4. The novel shoulder supports are designed in pairs and primarily for application to the inclined bars l2. However, the shoulder supports extend endwise into the zone of the crown l3, curved ends H and bottom bar Ill.

The construction of each shoulder support involves a frame composed of parallel wires 20, the frame being overlaid with a shield or plate 22 which forms a rest or proper support for one shoulder portion of the garment; and. the plate 22 is longitudinally slidable along the wire frame in order to be adaptable to garments of different widths. Finely-dotted lines in Fig. 1 show the supports separated for a garment of extra width.

The application of the plate 22 to the frame 20 is by means of a transverse clip 24 applied crosswise under the frame. A spacer block 26 occurs between the clip 24 and the plate 22; and the assembly of the clip, spacer block and plate is secured by a central rivet 21. The clip 24 thus serves as a guide and retainer for the plate 22 relative to the frame wires 20; and the position of the block 26 between the wires serves to keep the same properly spaced and to counteract tendencies for the clip 24 to collapse the center. While the connection just described occurs at a point approximately central of the plate 22, one end of the latter is also slidably connected to the frame. Thus, the plate 22 is sector-shaped and arched transversely to broaden toward the outer end portion of the garment; and the inner end of the plate is rolled from the sides as indicated at 30 to form tubular guides which regulate the sliding action of the plate relative to the frame and also serve as retainers for the plate.

The outer end of the frame 20 is gathered as indicated at 32 and welded to strengthen the frame; and the latter is continued beyond the weld with a narrow terminal loop 34. The opposite end of the frame is also gathered as indicated at 35 and welded; and the wires of the frame continue beyond the latter weld with terminal hooks 31.

In the application of each support to the hanger l3, the loop 34 is engaged with the curved ends II as shown in Fig. 1, while the balance of the support is laid over the inclined bar 12 of the hanger. The hook wires 31 now straddle the crown I3; and the support rests on the hanger. When a pair of the supports are mounted as shown in Fig. 1, a wire spring 39or a rubber band, if desired-4s applied endwise to engage the hooks 31 of the supports. The spring 39 draws upon the supports with the efiect of keeping them in firm engagement with the hanger. Thus, when a garment is placed thereon, the shoulder portions thereof will receive a broad and arched support on the plates 22, helping to retain the proper form of the garment; and the slidable adjustment of the plates 22 will enable the hanger to properly fit garments of different widths. Also, the plates may be designed to extend laterally more on one side than on the other, as suggested by the dotted lines 40 and 4| in Fig. 3 in order to adapt the support to corresponding forms of the garment.

It will be apparent from the above description that the novel supports comprise an attachment which readily fits the average garment hanger and can be mounted on the same with facility to serve the purpose of maintaining the shoulder portions of the garment properly supported. The set is composed of few parts, and serves as a simple and eflicient accessory which can be com pactly stored when not needed, or quickly applied to the conventional garment hanger.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, "various minor changes or refinements maybe made "therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spiritof theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A garment-shoulder support adaptable for garment hangers which are formed "with a bottom bar, diagonal upper bars, and rounded end portions connecting the upper bars 'with the bottom one; comprising a frame formed by a pairrof parallel wires mounted .side by side over and following the course of each upper bar, ;a

garment-shoulder supporting unit slidably adjustable alongaeach-frame and said wires being gathered before their outer ends with a welded joint and-continued as elongated loops each loop forming a receptacle ior-the-corresponding one of said rounded end portions by seating the bar portions leading thereto, said unit-beinga plate laid over the wires, aslide block between the latter, a-retainer :plate spanning-the Wires underneath, and a stud from the plate through the block and retainer plate to join the three toether.

2. A garment-shoulder support adaptable for garment hangers which are formed with a bottom bar, diagonal upper bars, and rounded end portions connecting the upper bars with the bottom one; comprising a frame formed by a pair of parallel wires mounted side by side over and following the courseof each upper bar, a garment-shoulder supporting unit slidably adjustable along each frame, and said wires being -.gather.ed before their outer ends with a welded ,joint and continued as elongated loops, each loop forming a receptacle for the corresponding one o'fsaid'roun'ded end portions by seating the bar References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kinney Nov. 30, 1943 Number 

